Sleep Disorders in Neurorehabilitation: Insomnia

Insomnia is a disorder that is defined by subjective complaint concerning the duration and quality of sleep. It is associated with numerous medical complications and poor rehabilitation outcome. Polysomnography and actigraphy provide objective measures of sleep duration, but assessment of subjective complaints concerning sleep relies on self-report measures. Psychotherapy is an effective treatment of insomnia, although neurocognitive factors often interfere with participation. Shortterm pharmacologic treatment is effective, but further study of adverse effects in neurologic populations is needed. This article summarizes alternative treatments and recommendations for further research.